Nearly half of underweight and obese young adults surveyed in a study on body weight issues reported moderate to severe body image concerns, including feeling self-conscious and lacking confidence, according to researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The findings showed that body image concerns affected psychological well-being differently across weight categories — underweight, normal, overweight and obese. Highlighting the broader implications, the researchers said the findings point to a pressing need for comprehensive health policies that address body image concerns among young adults across the weight spectrum. Educational institutions and healthcare systems should incorporate body image literacy and resilience-building programmes, they added. Such measures, the team said, could help policymakers create a more inclusive, stigma-free healthcare environment that supports both physical and mental well-being in young adults.

Source: The Telegraph January 05, 2026 10:50 UTC